and invaded the Geshurites; some of the old inhabitants of the land of Canaan, the remains of the Amorites, whose land was given to the half tribe of Manasseh, but could never be expelled; and therefore David had a just right to invade them, and, if he could, either expel or destroy them; see ( Deuteronomy 3:14 ) ( Joshua 12:5 ) ( Joshua 13:11Joshua 13:13 ) ; these are the Geshurites which are joined with the Philistines, ( Joshua 13:2 ) ;

and the Gezrites; the inhabitants of Gezer, which place fell to the tribe of Ephraim; but that tribe could not drive out the inhabitants of it, and therefore David now fell upon them as the enemies of Israel, and seized on their country, as belonging to them, ( Joshua 16:3 ) ( Judges 1:29 ) ;

and the Amalekites; the sworn and implacable enemies of Israel, and whose memory they were laid under obligation to root out. These were such as had escaped the sword of Saul, and had fled to the more distant parts, against whom David now went; and perhaps these had fled to and mixed themselves with the people here mentioned:

for these [nations were] of old the inhabitants of the land; of the land of Canaan;

as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt; see ( 1 Samuel 15:7 ) .